STUDY EXAMINES THE USE OF TOPICAL ANTIBIOTICS AFTER BIOPSIES AND EXCISIONS

In this study, the authors used data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to analyze the rate of topical antibiotic prescriptions given to patients after undergoing clean skin biopsy or excision among dermatologists and non-dermatologists between 2006 and 2015. In a representative 2-year period (2014–2015), topical antibiotics were prescribed by dermatologists at 10.2% of biopsy visits and 5.7% of excision visits and by non-dermatologists at 1.9% of biopsy visits and 5.3% of excision visits. Among dermatologists, there was an initial trend away from topical antibiotics with a nadir between 2010 and 2011 (OR, 0.20), with subsequent rise in use.

 

Despite high-quality evidence from randomized controlled trials suggesting advantages of using petrolatum, both dermatologists and non-dermatologists continue to prescribe topical antibiotics after clean procedures. Further studies are warranted to explore the factors behind this prescribing pattern and how to optimize topical antibiotic use.

 

Source: Margaret Hammond, MD, Practice Update [1/22/20] via Dr. Allen Jacobs

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News